Monday, May 4, 2009
My last night in Italy/Europe...
It was a great day in Paris and a very crappy night of traveling and dealing with taxi drivers, but I am finally 3 flights away from being home. 2 flights to Chicago and a week there with Miss. Strohmeier then one flight home on my birthday. I will fill everyone in on the last 3 days once I am in Chicago but for now I need to get ready for bed because it is 2 am and I have to be up in 3.5 hours. Ciao Italia!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
I think I may have deserved that C...
Well I am now in Barcelona, Spain! It has been a great time but I am realizing I only remember the basics from Spanish. It is becoming very frustrating, every time I want to say something it always comes out in Italian if anything. Other than that things are going great, I only have 4 days left until I fly to Chicago and get to spend a wonderful week with Sofie Strohmeier!
On Monday I went to the Colosseum and the ancient ruins that use to be market. It was a crappy rainy day though so I didn't spend much more than 3 hours there.
Tuesday my roommates and I had to take our bags to our friend's place, in Roma, and we woke up to a horrible downpour. We hoped for the best and packed our bags anyways. As we were leaving it was only sprinkling and as we walked down the street we saw our bus but thanks to traffic we were able to beat it to the bus stop. Never in my life have I wanted traffic so badly. Once we had our bags stowed at Colm's Maggie, Paula, and I broke off and went walking around for our last day. We didn't make it far before the rain picked up again and we ran into a coffee shop to grab some liquid goodness. The rain was on and off all day so we just decided to walk around in it and shop, sight see, and say good-bye to this awesome town.
After Dinner on Tuesday Maggie and I were off to start our own adventure. We had to leave at 5:40 in the morning so we went and stayed at a friend of Maggie's in the center of Roma so we could save some money on a taxi.
Wednesday morning we woke up at 5 so we could get to the airport to catch our flight to Spain. That is all the morning consisted of, traveling. Once we arrived in Barcelona we just stayed in the general area of our hostel and walked around. We wanted to find this huge park that was on our map but we kept getting lost. By the time we found it, two and a half hours later, it was fenced off for construction. The whole dang park, lake and all! We were a little let down so we just headed back to the hostel because we were so tired.
Yesterday Maggie and I went out and started out a Sacred Family Temple. We aren't sure what religion it is but it is a church that is being built and probably has another 30 years until it is done. First sight at looking at it you have to think this architect was tripping on acid when we designed it. It is the most bizarre structure I have ever seen. I couldn't even describe it if I wanted to. I bought a picture of it to show everyone because I couldn't get a picture of the entire structure.
After that little experience we went to the market that is by the sea and walked around. It was just the opening to the BEACH! We were really excited about this. The only problem was about 10 minutes after we got there the clouds began to roll in. After 1 hour it was total overcast. I still got into the water because it was surprisingly warm. It felt fantastic. Maggie and I concluded that experience with a walking rosary on the the beach. It sounded like a good idea at first but it was really hard to walk in the sand. I don't know how people run like that because walking was hard enough. We cheated and ate at a Mexican place for dinner last night because the traditional food was so expensive.
Today Maggie and I are packing and heading out for our next stop...Paris!
The Sacred Family Temple
On Monday I went to the Colosseum and the ancient ruins that use to be market. It was a crappy rainy day though so I didn't spend much more than 3 hours there.
Tuesday my roommates and I had to take our bags to our friend's place, in Roma, and we woke up to a horrible downpour. We hoped for the best and packed our bags anyways. As we were leaving it was only sprinkling and as we walked down the street we saw our bus but thanks to traffic we were able to beat it to the bus stop. Never in my life have I wanted traffic so badly. Once we had our bags stowed at Colm's Maggie, Paula, and I broke off and went walking around for our last day. We didn't make it far before the rain picked up again and we ran into a coffee shop to grab some liquid goodness. The rain was on and off all day so we just decided to walk around in it and shop, sight see, and say good-bye to this awesome town.
After Dinner on Tuesday Maggie and I were off to start our own adventure. We had to leave at 5:40 in the morning so we went and stayed at a friend of Maggie's in the center of Roma so we could save some money on a taxi.
Wednesday morning we woke up at 5 so we could get to the airport to catch our flight to Spain. That is all the morning consisted of, traveling. Once we arrived in Barcelona we just stayed in the general area of our hostel and walked around. We wanted to find this huge park that was on our map but we kept getting lost. By the time we found it, two and a half hours later, it was fenced off for construction. The whole dang park, lake and all! We were a little let down so we just headed back to the hostel because we were so tired.
Yesterday Maggie and I went out and started out a Sacred Family Temple. We aren't sure what religion it is but it is a church that is being built and probably has another 30 years until it is done. First sight at looking at it you have to think this architect was tripping on acid when we designed it. It is the most bizarre structure I have ever seen. I couldn't even describe it if I wanted to. I bought a picture of it to show everyone because I couldn't get a picture of the entire structure.
After that little experience we went to the market that is by the sea and walked around. It was just the opening to the BEACH! We were really excited about this. The only problem was about 10 minutes after we got there the clouds began to roll in. After 1 hour it was total overcast. I still got into the water because it was surprisingly warm. It felt fantastic. Maggie and I concluded that experience with a walking rosary on the the beach. It sounded like a good idea at first but it was really hard to walk in the sand. I don't know how people run like that because walking was hard enough. We cheated and ate at a Mexican place for dinner last night because the traditional food was so expensive.
Today Maggie and I are packing and heading out for our next stop...Paris!
The Sacred Family Temple
Sunday, April 26, 2009
More Pope Time
Friday was suppose to be a pretty awesome day. We were going to go to MonteCasino(first BIG Benedictine Monastary), Subiaco(St. Benedict's cave and first ever monastary), and St. Scholastic's first convent. We left at 8 for our 2 hour bus ride to MonteCasino. On the way out there a moped tried to pass us but there was a semi coming the other direction. So she slammed on her brakes and went for a face to face with asphalt. She slid pretty far and ended up in the other lane. I was asleep but some yelled there's an accident and I woke up just in time to see her go skidding across the road. She's just lucky that semi could stop fast enough. We stopped to help and do what we could because we were far out of town and it took the ambulance around 20 minutes to get there. She had blood coming out of everywhere. Her face, arms, hands, ankles. It was not a pretty sight. Dad, you would have passed out. We had to stick around because we had to file police reports. FUN STUFF! This took around an hour so we missed our tour. Our RD called and they said if we could get there by 12 they can try and squeeze us in. Well we got stuck in another traffic jam for another accident and we didn't make it there until 1. So after 5 hours in the bus we missed the tour.
We ate lunch on the lawn there. As we were eating one girl, Ni, wanted to get pictures behind the fence. The fence was being painted so she found a gate that was unlocked and snuck in and Jessica closed it after her. The painter noticed Jess by the gate so he went over and shut it all the way and called security to lock it. We started Kawing and yelling Ni trying to get her out, but she couldn't hear us. Security came out and thank god there was another problem and he got distracted. After about 10 minutes here comes Ni being escorted by 6 security guards. Apparently she tried to run and find an exit. They escorted her out and as she left she just waved and said, "Ciao! Grazie Mille! (Bye, Thanks a lot!)" Only Ni would thank security for throwing her out. The guard just started laughing.
After we had her we piled into the bus and headed for Subiaco and that was suppose to be one hour but because of construction we didn't get there until 4, we were suppose to be there at 3. We just were not having a good day. They still gave us a tour. It was awesome to be in the place where Benedictines were started. We saw his cave where he lived for 3 years and the chapels that he built. Well because we were late we completely missed our tour at the St. Scholastica convent. LAME. So we piled in the bus again and are in it until 8. So we are in the bus for 10 hours for 2 hours of being outside. Cool.
Yesterday, Saturday, I went around Roma with the Pate's, my professor and his wife, Adrienne, Chelsea, and Frank. We went to the bus stop and waited for about 90 minutes until we realized it was a national holiday, the day the Italians were freed from Germany. So we walked to another bus stop in hopes the bus would come there. Finally we got there and we started off at the Spanish steps. I went in February but the Pate's hadn't so we showed them. We bounced around Roma all day. We went to the Pantheon, which was unfortunately closed although we did eat lunch on the steps there. We went to an old Roman race track that is now a piazza filled with random artists. While we were standing around there we started playing with a ball that Frank had in his bag and Mrs. Pate looks at us and with a straight face says, "I love having you show us around. It is like being showed around by intelligible puppies." Thanks, I think.
We also went to a Church and that names translates to Saint Peter in Chains. Inside there are the chains that we used to lock up San Pietro. It was after that we headed back to the seminary but not without a stop by our favorite gelato place for lots of gelati.
A few nights ago I was talking to my dad and we were talking about having to look nice when seeing The Pope and how your arms have to be covered. I told my dad that it is to deter Chalice Chippers(Women who lead men away from the religious life). He told me that I may be able to lead many men away from the religious life but not our 75 year old pope. Then NEXT thing he asked me was, "Where I am staying?" Well...I am staying at a seminary...lol.
Today I woke up nice and early to go and see the Sistine Chapel I had to wait in line for over an hour to get in but it was worth it. I would have probably appreciated it more a month ago when I wasn't arted out but it was still incredible non-the-less. After that I went to the canonization of 5 saints and mass with the Pope. I am getting in as much pope time as possible while I am in Roma. I was gorgeous though, with flowers everywhere for the canonization. This was particularly nice because one of the saints being canonized was Bernardo Tolomei, he is the patron saint of my school's program in Florence.
Entrance to Subicao
Montecasino
Old Roman Acquaduct
Looks like an elephant
St. Benedict's cave
Benedict and Scholastic's last night together
Subiaco
We ate lunch on the lawn there. As we were eating one girl, Ni, wanted to get pictures behind the fence. The fence was being painted so she found a gate that was unlocked and snuck in and Jessica closed it after her. The painter noticed Jess by the gate so he went over and shut it all the way and called security to lock it. We started Kawing and yelling Ni trying to get her out, but she couldn't hear us. Security came out and thank god there was another problem and he got distracted. After about 10 minutes here comes Ni being escorted by 6 security guards. Apparently she tried to run and find an exit. They escorted her out and as she left she just waved and said, "Ciao! Grazie Mille! (Bye, Thanks a lot!)" Only Ni would thank security for throwing her out. The guard just started laughing.
After we had her we piled into the bus and headed for Subiaco and that was suppose to be one hour but because of construction we didn't get there until 4, we were suppose to be there at 3. We just were not having a good day. They still gave us a tour. It was awesome to be in the place where Benedictines were started. We saw his cave where he lived for 3 years and the chapels that he built. Well because we were late we completely missed our tour at the St. Scholastica convent. LAME. So we piled in the bus again and are in it until 8. So we are in the bus for 10 hours for 2 hours of being outside. Cool.
Yesterday, Saturday, I went around Roma with the Pate's, my professor and his wife, Adrienne, Chelsea, and Frank. We went to the bus stop and waited for about 90 minutes until we realized it was a national holiday, the day the Italians were freed from Germany. So we walked to another bus stop in hopes the bus would come there. Finally we got there and we started off at the Spanish steps. I went in February but the Pate's hadn't so we showed them. We bounced around Roma all day. We went to the Pantheon, which was unfortunately closed although we did eat lunch on the steps there. We went to an old Roman race track that is now a piazza filled with random artists. While we were standing around there we started playing with a ball that Frank had in his bag and Mrs. Pate looks at us and with a straight face says, "I love having you show us around. It is like being showed around by intelligible puppies." Thanks, I think.
We also went to a Church and that names translates to Saint Peter in Chains. Inside there are the chains that we used to lock up San Pietro. It was after that we headed back to the seminary but not without a stop by our favorite gelato place for lots of gelati.
A few nights ago I was talking to my dad and we were talking about having to look nice when seeing The Pope and how your arms have to be covered. I told my dad that it is to deter Chalice Chippers(Women who lead men away from the religious life). He told me that I may be able to lead many men away from the religious life but not our 75 year old pope. Then NEXT thing he asked me was, "Where I am staying?" Well...I am staying at a seminary...lol.
Today I woke up nice and early to go and see the Sistine Chapel I had to wait in line for over an hour to get in but it was worth it. I would have probably appreciated it more a month ago when I wasn't arted out but it was still incredible non-the-less. After that I went to the canonization of 5 saints and mass with the Pope. I am getting in as much pope time as possible while I am in Roma. I was gorgeous though, with flowers everywhere for the canonization. This was particularly nice because one of the saints being canonized was Bernardo Tolomei, he is the patron saint of my school's program in Florence.
Entrance to Subicao
Montecasino
Old Roman Acquaduct
Looks like an elephant
St. Benedict's cave
Benedict and Scholastic's last night together
Subiaco
Thursday, April 23, 2009
I chilled with JPII today!
Today our group took the Scavi Tour at the Vatican. It is a special tour given to groups that plan way head because of the necropolis' preservation needs and the limited space. This is the original burial site of Saint Peter and it is under the Vatican. These Vatican sponsored archeological digs were done in the mid 1900's because of the knowledge that the basilica was built on top of basically a grave yard. In there it is VERY narrow and some places I couldn't walk straight but it was all worth it because I saw St. Pete's bones. To end a fantastic trip to The Vatican I went and saw the Tomb of Pope John Paul II. It made my day. I had them lay my cross that I always wear, the one Ben got me in Paraguay, and my miraculous medal on the tomb for a few seconds. So not only did I get it blessed by The Pope yesterday, I laid it on JP The Great's tomb. It has now become the coolest necklace ever! I wish I could have taken pictures on this tour but it wasn't allowed, lame. I guess it is important to protect this 1940 year old site. Here are some pictures of inside the Vatican though.
That letter O is 5'10" tall by 5'10" wide!
Michelangelo's Pieta
That letter O is 5'10" tall by 5'10" wide!
Michelangelo's Pieta
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I got within 2 feet of the POPE today!
It was AWESOME!!! My friend Frank froze. He had no idea what to say and all he could think to say was, "Hey pope, how's it goin'?" The Pope handled it well and just waved at him and smiled. About 4 people caught it on video. We had front row seats and it was incredible. We had to wake up at 5:40 to be on the bus at 6:30 to leave and it was well worth it. We finally got to see him at 10:30! I have pretty much been walking on air all day because of this. I got a bunch of stuff blessed and my friend Frank got an Ohio state flag blessed, weirdo....it's not even a cool state, like Kansas.
After the awesomeness that was this morning we went across the street to a seminary where we have a friend who is studying there. We took him out for gelato and we walked around town until he had to leave for class. After he departed we went to Old Roma, not Ancient Roma, just old, and walked around. It's really different from the historical part so it was great to see. After this we were just exhausted because it was 6 at night and we just wanted to collapse so we head back and we are concluding our night in our comfortable beds.
Below are a bunch of pictures from the last few days:
This is a picture I took it is not zoomed in, I was just this close:
Frank and his flag...
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWcYxaLMYI6rOw0xJ-0oy6DeHmWQrIcw6SvRA6HmWsda-UO5NWFfRCYKraSl_rwRj85gyamtdUS8m1AFT4duI2Dr9mOsNYj5Ba-gulGbxsnD13a4M-GQmPv551lvOcQGgKaM5su7rfeM/s1600-h/pope+073.JPG">
A little Italian boy couldn't see so I put him on my back
I stole this hat from a little Italian girl, don't worry she took it back
Me in front of the Vatican
Some of us know how to take good pictures
Eatting gelato from the best place ever, it's about 3 blocks away from the Vatican. That is our friend Colm who is studying to be a priest
Jenn is always posing
like I said, always posing
After the awesomeness that was this morning we went across the street to a seminary where we have a friend who is studying there. We took him out for gelato and we walked around town until he had to leave for class. After he departed we went to Old Roma, not Ancient Roma, just old, and walked around. It's really different from the historical part so it was great to see. After this we were just exhausted because it was 6 at night and we just wanted to collapse so we head back and we are concluding our night in our comfortable beds.
Below are a bunch of pictures from the last few days:
This is a picture I took it is not zoomed in, I was just this close:
Frank and his flag...
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWcYxaLMYI6rOw0xJ-0oy6DeHmWQrIcw6SvRA6HmWsda-UO5NWFfRCYKraSl_rwRj85gyamtdUS8m1AFT4duI2Dr9mOsNYj5Ba-gulGbxsnD13a4M-GQmPv551lvOcQGgKaM5su7rfeM/s1600-h/pope+073.JPG">
A little Italian boy couldn't see so I put him on my back
I stole this hat from a little Italian girl, don't worry she took it back
Me in front of the Vatican
Some of us know how to take good pictures
Eatting gelato from the best place ever, it's about 3 blocks away from the Vatican. That is our friend Colm who is studying to be a priest
Jenn is always posing
like I said, always posing
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I'm a Senior!
Finals are over and I am now in Rome. I spent my day saying goodbye to all the friends I made at the Villa and traveling. As a final goodbye from the Villa staff we had a BBQ last night. We danced, had a bonfire (built over a well), and reminisced over the great semester we had here. Our Italian professors came and during the bonfire we burned our Italian books. Mine kept yelling that it was a crime against culture. But seriously the books are set up horribly and are useless without a teacher.
The students from BC that were studying in Spain also came to the BBQ. We played a very physical game of soccer on our small patch on grass and we kept kicking it so hard that it would go over the neighbor's fence. She was getting pretty mad at us; I think she is happy we finally left.
We did a traditional Italian dance and I was paired up with my Italian teacher and he is awkward anyways without having to dance with his students. Everybody was asking him questions though because he wouldn't answer any of them while he was teaching us. So he looks REALLY young, like 12, and I already knew how old he was but he still looks that old. Well one girl, Ni, asked how old he was, he replied, "26." She replied, "REALLY? you look like you are 18!" we all started laughing about how mean that was but then another girl, Kate, one ups her by saying, "Do you even grow facial hair?" He said yes, but I am pretty sure that is a lie. There is no way that he could possibly grow ANY facial hair, I have more peach fuzz on my face than he does. The one question he wouldn't answer was if he had a girlfriend. He did tell us where he lived though. The other Italian teacher left early for a date so poor Giovanni was stuck in a group of 22 girls and 4 guys.
To end the night we watched the movies I have been making this whole trip. I will show everyone when I get home, they are too large to put online.
The students from BC that were studying in Spain also came to the BBQ. We played a very physical game of soccer on our small patch on grass and we kept kicking it so hard that it would go over the neighbor's fence. She was getting pretty mad at us; I think she is happy we finally left.
We did a traditional Italian dance and I was paired up with my Italian teacher and he is awkward anyways without having to dance with his students. Everybody was asking him questions though because he wouldn't answer any of them while he was teaching us. So he looks REALLY young, like 12, and I already knew how old he was but he still looks that old. Well one girl, Ni, asked how old he was, he replied, "26." She replied, "REALLY? you look like you are 18!" we all started laughing about how mean that was but then another girl, Kate, one ups her by saying, "Do you even grow facial hair?" He said yes, but I am pretty sure that is a lie. There is no way that he could possibly grow ANY facial hair, I have more peach fuzz on my face than he does. The one question he wouldn't answer was if he had a girlfriend. He did tell us where he lived though. The other Italian teacher left early for a date so poor Giovanni was stuck in a group of 22 girls and 4 guys.
To end the night we watched the movies I have been making this whole trip. I will show everyone when I get home, they are too large to put online.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
My Italian Final...
Is tomorrow, dum, dum, dummmmm. Prayers please! The written part should be easy but we have an oral part of just free conversation that I am worried about because he gave us no idea what it will be about.
This weekend was fun. On Friday night everybody from our group had one last big hurrah. We all went to a bar in Florence and while we were there we met a friend. She was about 65 maybe 70 and was dancing with our 4 guys. It was so much fun to watch and take videos of. It all fine and good until she groped Ali in the bathroom, up-skirted Katie, then flashed all of us. Now let me tell you, that is something I never wanted to see. We went to the bartender and he threw her out and after that all was good. It was a fun night and a great way to say goodbye to everyone.
This weekend was fun. On Friday night everybody from our group had one last big hurrah. We all went to a bar in Florence and while we were there we met a friend. She was about 65 maybe 70 and was dancing with our 4 guys. It was so much fun to watch and take videos of. It all fine and good until she groped Ali in the bathroom, up-skirted Katie, then flashed all of us. Now let me tell you, that is something I never wanted to see. We went to the bartender and he threw her out and after that all was good. It was a fun night and a great way to say goodbye to everyone.
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